Lowry scores 29 to lead Raptors to 106-89 win over Wizards

TORONTO, CANADA - JANUARY 26: Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors shoots the ball against John Wall #2 of the Washington Wizards on January 26, 2016 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Ron Turenne/NBAE via Getty Images)

AP Photo

January 26, 2016

TORONTO (AP) Kyle Lowry had a vintage performance in the Toronto Raptors ninth straight victory but the focus was on the All-Star starter's injured left wrist.

Lowry had 29 points when, with about four minutes left in the game Tuesday night, he caught his left wrist on a Wizards player setting a screen. He quickly left the floor and went up the tunnel toward the Toronto locker room before coming back to the bench briefly and then, finally, being led away again by the training staff back under the stands.

The Raptors would go on to win 106-89 win over the Washington Wizards, tying a franchise-best for consecutive victories. The Raptors tweeted shortly after the game that the X-ray on his wrist was negative.

''I really thought it was worse than it was but I'm fine,'' said Lowry.

Jonas Valanciunas had 13 points and 12 rebounds for the Raptors while DeMar DeRozan had 17 points and Terrence Ross added 15 points off the bench. The Raptors tied the franchise-high nine consecutive wins they set in 2002 when Vince Carter was their star.

Lowry said despite their streak, the Raptors are simply focusing on their next opponent.

John Wall led the way for the Wizards with 18 points and 14 assists. Otto Porter Jr. added 15 points and eight rebounds and Gary Neal chipped in 14 points off the bench for Washington, which has lost two straight and four of the last five.

''We're struggling with consistency right now,'' said Neal. ''We were down in the first half and came back, made a run, but we never put a run on somebody else and make them call a timeout.''

The Wizards cut the Raptors lead to five points three minutes into the final quarter.

But the Raptors ran off nine straight points, which were punctuated by Lowry's fifth 3 of the night, to stretch the lead to 88-74 with seven minutes to go.

''Our defense is terrible right now, probably the worst in the league,'' Wall said. ''Until we start playing defense, we're not going to win games.''

Wizards coach Randy Wittman said he thought the difference was giving Toronto too many second and third opportunities in the second half and not being aggressive enough.

''We have to figure it out,'' Wittman said. ''We have to get back in the gym and work at it.''

The Raptors led 77-70 after three quarters as Lowry led all scorers with 22.

Toronto was up 53-50 at halftime. The Raptors led by as 14 in the second quarter but the Wizards made it close before the break as Wall scored 11 points and had three assists in the quarter.

The Raptors won their sixth straight regular season game against Washington despite some sloppy play - 18 turnovers leading to 28 Wizards' points - inconsistent defense and giving back much of their big first-half lead.

''We found a way to win,'' said Toronto coach Dwane Casey. ''But you can't continue to live like that.

TIP-INS

Wizards: Wall recorded his team-leading 25th double-double of the season. ... Washington is 1-4 this season when scoring less than 90 points.

Raptors: Valanciunas recorded his team-leading ninth double-double of the season. ... Toronto had a 36-34 edge in points in the paint.

BACK-TO-BACK STRUGGLES:

The Wizards, who lost Monday night against Boston, are now 3-7 in the second game of a back-to-back set.

SHOOTING WOES:

The Wizards shot 41 percent from the field, dropping to 1-16 this season when shooting below 44 percent.

DOUBLE TROUBLE:

Ross with his 15 points recorded his fifth straight game in double digits coming off the bench.

UP NEXT:

The Wizards host the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night.

The Raptors host the New York Knicks on Thursday night.

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